As romance blossoms in February, the IFI will screen Bound, the noir-inflected story of Violet (Jennifer Tilly) and her lover Corky (Gina Gershon) who hatch a plan to rob $2 million from mafia money launderer Caesar (Joe Pantoliano). On its release,Bound received praise not just for its undoubted style, but also for its credible portrayal of gay female characters. Weekend, Andrew Haigh’s deeply romantic film, focuses on Russell, looking for love, and Glen, who has recently had his heart broken, over the course of one weekend. On its release in 2011, Weekend ushered in an exciting new voice in Britain’s LGBT landscape.
From The Vaults, the monthly strand of films from the IFI Irish Film Archive, presents a special Valentine’s Day screening of Sydney Macartney’s A Love Divided, the dramatic story of the marriage between Seán Cloney, a Catholic, and his wife Sheila, a Protestant, in 1950s Ireland, with striking central performances from Orla Brady, who will attend this screening, and Liam Cunningham.
Leading this year’s Oscar race with 13 nominations, Guillermo del Toro’s The Shape of Water opens at the IFI on Valentine’s Day. This beautiful, romantic fairy tale centres on mute Elisa (Oscar nominee Sally Hawkins), who suffers from acute loneliness. When the mysterious corporation for which she works acquires an ‘asset’ in the form of an amphibian humanoid, guarded by the sadistic Strickland (Michael Shannon), she is drawn to the creature, gaining its trust as the two ultimately fall in love and search for a way to be together.
The IFI Café Bar is delighted to offer a special Valentine’s Day menu for this year – couples will be greeted with a glass of Processo on arrival before enjoying a delicious two-course dinner followed by a scrumptious Valentine cupcake, all for just €50. To reserve a table call 01-6798712.
Tickets for these screenings are available now at www.ifi.ie or from the IFI Box Office on 01-6793477